Follow us on social media!

MONTH-2-MONTH

August 2026

MONTH-2-MONTH is intended to provide you with updates on AFP and timely financial planning and investment information on a variety of topics. 

If you find our content useful, please forward this email to a friend.

Late Summer Reflections

August often feels like a bridge between seasons. Summer is still here, but changing schedules and back to school routines remind us that fall is not far away. It is a good time to enjoy these final weeks of summer while looking ahead to what the next season may bring.

CLIENT APPRECIATION EVENT- Today’s the day! Join us today, Friday, August 21, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for our Client Appreciation BBQ. Enjoy delicious food, refreshments, and a relaxed afternoon with the AFP team and fellow clients. Feel free to bring a neighbor or friend. We hope to see you there!

REGULAR HOURS RETURN- Following Labor Day, AFP’s summer hours will end, and we will resume our regular schedule. We will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

OFFICE SIDEWALK REPAIR- The sidewalk replacement project originally scheduled around our office has been delayed. Construction has not yet begun, and we have not received an updated timeline. We will provide further updates as they become available. 

EMAIL SAFETY REMINDER - Please remain cautious when receiving emails, even when they appear to come from someone you know. Before clicking a link, opening an attachment, or sharing information, verify the sender and consider whether the request seems unusual. If a suspicious message appears to come from AFP, please contact our office directly before responding.

Click below to read our August 2026 Blog edition.

The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Them, Planning for You

We would enjoy receiving your feedback on our Blog. Please share any comments or suggestions for future topics with us via email.

Housing: The median home price in the U.S. rose for a 36th consecutive month, reaching an all-time high of $440,600 in July, up 1.8% from a year earlier, according to National Association of Realtors data cited by J.P. Morgan Global Research. J.P. Morgan

Inflation: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in July after falling 0.4 percent in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the last 12 months, the index rose 3.4 percent, while the index for all items less food and energy rose 2.5 percent year over year. U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsBureau of Labor Statistics

Interest rates: The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate at a target range of 3.50%–3.75% on July 29, 2026, in a divided 9–3 vote, with three policymakers preferring a rate increase. The next Fed decision is scheduled for September 16, 2026, and will include updated economic projections. Cambridge CurrenciesCambridge Currencies

Employment: Nonfarm payroll employment fell by 23,000 in July while the unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Health and social assistance added the most jobs (+22,600), followed by construction (+22,000), while government employment fell by 53,000. U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsStaffing Industry Analysts

Energy prices: Benchmark crude prices surged to a two-month high in July after the mid-June Iran-U.S. ceasefire broke down, trading in an unusually wide $40-per-barrel range and spiking as high as $105/bbl on July 23, according to the IEA's August Oil Market Report. IEA

 This may look like Tic-Tac-Toe, but it’s actually the year-to-date rates of return in U.S. equity markets through July 31st, 2026, broken down by company size and investment approach. The style box is a tool created by Morningstar and is now a staple in investing, helping to visually communicate what is happening in different areas of the stock market. What is interesting is the significant shift in returns from growth to value this year. In the past few years, large-cap growth has significantly outperformed all other style boxes. Additionally, through July 31^st, value has outperformed growth across all capitalizations (large, medium, and small). Lastly, small-cap companies across all three styles are currently outperforming large- and medium-cap companies. This is an interesting shift, reflecting broader market participation than in the past few years and the importance of using an asset allocation approach to investing.   

Source: Guide to the Markets – U.S. Data are as of July 31, 2026- current.

FactSet, FTSE Russell, Standard & Poor’s, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

All calculations are cumulative total return, including dividends reinvested for the stated period. For all time periods, total return is based on Russell style indices except for the large blend category, which is based on the S&P 500 index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Digital Estate Planning: Protecting Online Assets

By Austin Jarvis

Source: Charles Schwab

Image by Canva

If someone needed to manage your digital life, would they know where to begin? From online accounts and stored photographs to social media profiles, subscriptions, and rewards points, our digital footprints are often larger than we realize. Without a plan, loved ones may have difficulty locating important accounts, preserving meaningful memories, or knowing what you would want done with your online presence. This article looks at the steps you can take to organize your digital assets, choose trusted contacts, and leave clear instructions for the future. Taking a little time to prepare now can help reduce uncertainty and make an already difficult time easier for the people you care about.

Click here to read this article.

In honor of National Dog Day on August 26



We Know Our Pets Make Us Happy.

They May Also Be Making Us Live Longer

By Kevin Spencer

Source: Los Angeles Times

Image by Teri Alexander

Anyone who shares life with a pet already knows how much happiness they can bring to an ordinary day. Their companionship can provide comfort, create a sense of routine, and give us more reasons to stay active and connected. Research suggests these everyday benefits may also support our mental and physical health as we age. With National Dog Day approaching on August 26, this article takes a closer look at how caring for our pets may also help us care for ourselves.

Click here to read this article.

Labor Day Reading

The Evolution of AI Fraud: Offense and Defense

Source: Charles Schwab

Image by Canva

The days of spotting a scam by its awkward wording or obvious spelling mistakes are quickly disappearing. With the help of AI, fraudulent emails, phone calls, voices, and videos can look and sound remarkably convincing. This article explores how scammers are using this technology, how financial institutions are using it to fight back, and the warning signs that can still help you recognize when something is not quite right.

Click here to read this article

Do you know someone who can benefit from FINANCIAL PLANNING?

At Alexander Financial Planning, we are passionate about financial life planning. We also know that it is not just about the numbers. While numbers are important, they are there to support your hopes, dreams, and desires. When we can put all the components of financial planning together, (cash flow, insurance, investing, taxation, and estate planning) your unique picture of a path forward comes into view. For 28+ years, we have been helping individuals and families develop their plan and navigate the twists and turns each year.

Whether you’re planning for retirement, becoming an empty nester, or navigating how to take retirement distributions, we are your thinking partner. We are here to make sense of it all, one step at a time. If now is the time for you or someone you know to get serious about your financial future, contact us. We’d love to be of service. 

WHAT SETS US APART

National Thoughtful Day|August 28

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

Maya Angelou